Athletic supporter



w, 1925 wm g J. L. STENGEL ATHLETI G SUPI ORTER Filed May 25 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jaseyvkl 3Z6 ryel,

Nmn 17, E925. 1,5618%8 J. L STENGEL ATHLETIC SUPPORTER Filed May 23 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -10 3 8 H'mnroz A6 0, 5

Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

,UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH L. STENGEL, OF I MI-DDLIESIBORO,

KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO EARTH-PAGE COMPANY, OF MIDDLESBORO, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION OF KEI N 'TUCKY.

, ATHLETIC surronrna.

Application filed May 23, 1925. Serial No. 32,395.

v vention relates to ,flat seams employed in various garments. I

Athletic supporters as heretofore constructed have been formed with lapped seams which have necessitated one face only being positioned in direct contact with the wearer in order to avoid any chafing or rubbing which would otherwise occur should the reverse side of the supporter be placed in direct contact with the wearer. Furthermore, in supporters heretofore constructed elastic webbing has been employed, but the seams connecting the various sections of the webbing have not been constructed so as to retain the supporter in proper shape nor to prevent the cut ends of the sections from projecting through such seams.

' One of the important objects of my invention is to provide a supporter. in which each of the seams thereof includes adjacent webbing sections disposed in edge abutting relation whereby the supporter may be readily reversed and either face thereof employed in direct contact with the wearer without any chafing .or rubbing action resulting therefrom.

Another important objectof the invention is to join two elastic web sections by 'a seam which is so constructed as to not only cover the severed ends of the webbing, but also anchor the rubber strands of the webhing whereby they will be retained in their normal positions whenever the webbing is subjected to longitudinal expansion.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a flat seamof the character .described in which a reinforcing tape is secured along the cut edge portion of one of the webbing sections so as to prevent stretching of the webbing whereby said webbing'will retain its. original shape and whereby said tape will assume all strain which would otherwise be directed to said webbing.

With these and other objects in view' which will more readily appear as the na- 1 ture of the invention is better understood,

the same consists in the novel construction; v

combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ath-- letic supporter constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof, the supporter -being folded;

Figure 3 is-an enlarged bottom plan view showing the seams for uniting the pouch sections with the side straps;

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view showing the seam and stitch construction thereof, which unites the pouch sections;-

Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view showing the seam connection between the waist band and the pouch;

Figure 6 is a sectlonal view showing diagrammatically the seam' shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view showing diagrammatically the seam connection between the waist band and the side strap;

Figure 8 is a sectional view showing diagrammatically the seam connection between the side straps and the pouch;

. Figure 9 isa sectional view showing diagrammatcally a modified form of seam structure;

Figure 10 is a slmilar'view but showing another modified form of seam structure;

Figure 1 1 is a sectional view showing diagrammatically the seam construction connecting the pouch sections, and 1 Figure 12is a similar view but showing diagrammatically the seam structure join- .ingthe adjacent ends of the waist band's.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several fig-.

ures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A indicates an athletic sup rter constructed in accordance with my invention. This" suprorter is preferably formed of elastic web ing sections and includes a waist band B, a pouch C, and side straps D.

The webbing sections are each formed of derstood that if a section is cut across at any angle less than 90 degrees, the cut edge is rendered capable of being expanded, and the smaller the degree of the cut the greater the amount of expansion can be obtained. It will also be understood that unless the severed end portions of the rubber strands are properly anchored, any longitudinal expansion of a section will serve to pull said end portions of the strands towards the center of the section, i. e.. away from the cut edge of the section. The effect of this movement of the strands is -to reduce the elastic efiiciency of the section, to change the shape of the section, and to produce a wavy and therefore objectionable appearance to said section.

The waist band B is preferably formed from a single length of elastic webbing, the cut end portions being disposed in abutting relation and secured in such relation by a flat seam construction which I have indiczltted as a whole by the reference numera 5.

The pouch C is formed from a pair of elastic webbing sections 7, 7 which are arranged side by side and secured in such relation by a flat seam 8,. The lower portions of the sections 7 are cut on curves which extenddownwardly and outwardly, each curve being formed by cutting the webbing across the rubber strands 5. These cut edges extend from the inner or meeting edges of the sections 7 downwardly and outwardly to the outer'edges of the respective sections. The fiat seam 8 is formed by covering the curved cut edges of the sections 7 by a line of covering stitches 9 which also secures a nonelastic tape 10 to the section in position along said out edge, and then joining the meeting edges of the sections 7, 7 by a line of stitches 11.

The side straps D are likewise formed of elastic webbing and are preferably formed from a continuous strip of such webbing, said strip being folded intermediate its ends as shown in Figures 3 and 8, the folded edge being disposed in abutting relation relative to the lower rear edge of the pouch C so as to extend on opposite sides of the seam which joins the meeting edges of the pouch sections. A flat seam 12 unites the folded edge portions of the side straps D with the pouch C.

The upper edge portion of the pouch C is disposed in abutting relation with the lower edge portion of the waist band B, and is united thereto by'a flat seam 13.

The upper edge portions-of the side straps D are likewise positioned in abutting relation with the lower edge portion of the waist band B and are joined thereto by flat seams 14, 14.

In forming the pouch C, the lower portions of the two sections 7 are each cut so as to present rounded lower edge portions. Each rounded edge portion extends across the rubber strands oi the webbing and the out edge portion of each section is fed through a sewing machine which lays coving threads over and around said out.

edge portion. I preferably employ a sewing machine of the ,overlock type. Such a machine produces a line of stitches having a needle thread 15 and a looperthread 16, the needle thread l5including a plurality of penetrant needle thread loops 15 which enter the tape 10 and webbing section 7. Between adjacent needle loops the needle thread is formed into covering loops 15 which extend laterally beyond and cover the cut edge of the section. The covering loops 15 are concatenated along the cut edge with the covering loops 16 formed .by the looper thread 16, the looper thread loops being in turn concatenated with the needle thread loops on the outer face of the tape. Thus the penetrant needle thread loops serve to anchor the rubber strands of the webbing against bodily movement when the webbing is expanded longitudinally, and by reason of these needle thread loops and the looper thread loops extending over; the cut edge, the frayed ends of the woven cloth and the adjacent ends of the rubber strands are covered and are thereby held against working outwardly beyond the plane of either face of the section 7. After the cut edges of the sections 7 are thus covered, 1 position the meeting edges thereof in abutting relation and then join said sections by the line of stitches 11 which as shown are produced by a zig-zag sewingmachine. Thus a line of zig-zag stitches is formed consisting of a needle thread 17 and a lower or looper thread 18. The needle thread 17 is formed into a connected line of staggered needle thread loops which alternately penetrate both tapes 10 and adjacent portions of the fabric sections 7. This 'line of stitches 11 is continued beyond the cut edges of the sections so asto also secure the upper meeting edges of said sections 7, 7 in abutting relation.

By thus curving the lower portions of the meeting edges of the pouch sections 7 and r by a zig-zag sewing machine by which a line of staggered needle thread loops is formed,

the alternate loops penetrating. the straps D, D and the pouch C, as shown diagrammatically in Figure 8.

The upper edge portion of the pouch C is then joined to the lower edge of the waist band B through the medium of the seam 13.

This seam 13 is shown in Figures 5 and 6. The upper cut edge portions of the sections 7 are first covered by a line of overlook stitches 18, the needle thread loops '19 thereof penetrating the tape 20 and pouch sections 7. The. needle thread loops 19 extend over the cut edges and concatenate with loo er thread loops 21. A line of z'ig-zag stitc es 22 unites the upper portion of the 'pouch with the lower portion of the waist band. Thus the needle thread loops 19 securely anchor the end portions of the rubber strands 5 of the pouch sections 7 a ainst bodily movement when the sections are expanded longitudinally.

Each of the seams 14, which form the connections between the ends of the said straps B and the waist band, is similarly formed as shown in- Figure 7. In this figure the tape is indicated at 23, the overlook stitches at 24, and the zig-zag stitches at 25.

The cut ends of the waist band B are then united by the seam 6 which is diagrammatically shown in Figure 12, the construction of'this seam being identical with that shown in Figure 11. This seam 6 includes the meeting end portions 28, 26 of the waist band B, the cutledges thereof being disposed in abutting relation. Each edge portion is covered by a line of overlook stitches which I have indicated as a whole by the reference numeral 27, each line of said stitches secur ing a tape 28 along the adjacent cut edge. These abutting cut edge portions are then united by a line of zig-zag stitches 29.

Another advantage is obtained by employing the tapes along the cut edges of the elastic webbing, viz., it serves to form a better holding means for the needle thread loops which penetrate said tapes and therefore permits of very short stitches to be employed. The employment of short stitches is decidedly advantageous in that the cut edge portions are better covered. I

I may desire to em loy covering stitches for the cut edges of tlie webbing, of a type known as triple interlock stitches, as dia- -:con-nected.needle thread loops 30,

rammatically shown in Figure 9. Triple mterlock stitches are formed by a sewing machine which includes three needles and a single thneaded looper cooperating therewith. Th1s machine produces three lines of; 31 and 32,

respectively, a lower coverin thread 33' which concatenates with all 0 said needle thread loops and one or more upper covering threads 34. The needle thread loops 30 will cover the cut edge of the fabric, whereas the needle loops 31 and 32 will penetrate the tape 35 and webbing 36.

It may, however, be desired to further in-.

crease the holding or retaining qualities of the overlook covering stitches and to this end I have rovided the seam with a separate line of straightaway stitches 37, as shown in. Figure 10. In this form I have indicated the overlook stitches as a whole by the numeral 38,.the tape by the numeral 39, and thewebbing by the numeral 40. The line of straightaway stitches 37 includes a series of connected needle thread loops which penetrate the tape 39 and webbing 40. This needle thread also serves to tie down the looper thread loops and the needle thread loops of the overlook stitches 38 and also serves to more securely retain the ends of the rubber strandsa inst longitudinal move-. ment when thewe tudinal expansion.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have pnovided an athletic supporter in which all parts are connected by fiat seams,

thus perm1tting either face of the supporter Having thus described my invention what a I claim as new is 1. In an athletic supporter, pouch including in combination two longitudinally bing is subjected to longielastic webbing sections disposed in abutting relation and having cut edges extending across the sections, a line of stitches secured to each section and covering cut edges thereof and engaging and anchoring the elastic parts of the webbing, and a line of stitches connecting said sections and including anchored needle thread loops extending. through the respective sections. 7 2. In' an athletic supporter. a ouch including in combination two longitudinally elastic webbing sections disposed in abutting relation and having cut edges extending across the sections, a line of stitches secured to each section andlcovering cut ed es thereof and engagin and anchoring eelastic parts of the we bing, and a line of stitches connecting said sections. and including anchored needle thread loops extending through the respective sections, said connect- ,ing stltches being confined within the borders across the sections, a line of stitches secured to each section and covering cut edges thereof and engaging and anchoring the elastic parts of the Webbing, an inelastic tape secured by said covering stitches to one face of each section along the cut edge thereof, and a line of stitches connecting said sections and including anchored needle thread loops extending through the respective sections and tapes.

4. In an athletic sup orter, the combination of a waist band, an a pouch, said pouch including a longitudinally elastic webbing section having a cut edge extending across the section and disposed in abutting relation to one edge of said waist band, a line of stitches secured to said webbing section and covering the cut edges thereof and engagin and anchoring the elastic parts of the we bing, and a line of stitches connectin said waist band and webbing section and including anchored needle thread loops ex-- tending through said band and section on opposite sides of said abutting edges.

5. In an athletic supporter. the combination of a waist band, and a pouch, said pouch comprising two longitudinally elastic webbing sections arranged side by side and having upper cut edges disposed in abutting relation against the lower edge of the waist band, the meeting edges of the sections throughout the length of the pouch being connected by a line of stitching, a line of stitches covering the cut edges of the pouch sections and engaging and anchoring the elastic arts of the webbing, an inelastic tape secure bysaid covering stitches to one face of said sections and extending across the meeting edges thereof, and a line of stitches connecting said waist band and pouch sections and including anchored needle thread loops extending through said band and sections and tape on opposite sides of said abutting edges.

-6. In an athletic su porter, the combination of a waist band and a pouch, said pouch comprising two longitudinally elastic webbing sections arranged side by side and having upper cut edges disposed in abutting relation against the lower edge of the waist band, the meeting edges of the sections throughout the length of the pouch being connected by a line of stitching, a line of stitches covering the cut edges (if the pouch sections and engaging and anchoring the elastic arts of the webbing, an inelastic tape secured by said covering stitches to one face of said sections and extending across the meeting edges thereof, the lower portions of said sections having their meeting edges curved from the innerlongitudinal edges of the sections to the outer longitudinal edges thereof, and side straps connecting the waist band and the bottom of the pouch along the outer longitudinal edges of the sections and extending on opposite sides of :their meeting edges.

7. In a reversible athletic supporter formed from out sections of elastic webbing,

the combination with a waist band, sections of a pouch having its upper cut edge disposed in abutting relation to the lower edges of the band and stitched thereto, side straps connecting the waist band and pouch, the

upper cut ends of the straps being disposed in abutting relation to the lower edge of the waist band and connected thereto, the

lower ends of the straps being disposed in abutting relation to'the lower edge of the pouch, and se arate lines of stitches respectively. extending transversely of certain of the sections adjacent the cut ends thereof to' anchor the elastic parts of said sections.

8. In a reversible athletic supporter formed from out sections of elastic webbing, the combination with a waistband section having its out ends disposed in abutting relation and joined by a line of stitches, of a separate line of stitches extending transversely of the waist band adjacent each cut end thereof to anchor th elastic parts of the webbing, a'pouch having its upper cut edge disposed in abutting relation to the lower edge of the band and stitched thereto, a separate line of stitches extending transversely of the pouch adjacent the cut edges thereof to anchor the elastic arts of the webbing forming the pouch, si e straps connecting the waist band and pouch, the upper cut ends of the straps being disposed in abutting relation to the lower edge of the waist band and stitched thereto, and a separate line of stitches extending transversely of each strap adjacent the cut end thereof to anchor the elastic parts of the webbing forming the strap.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

JOSEPH L. STENGEL. 

